Luke Rockhold Admits His Days at Middleweight Are Numbered

Luke Rockhold is about to compete for the interim middleweight title at UFC 221 this weekend but he may not be sticking around at 185 pounds for much longer.

Rockhold has admitted in the past that cutting down to middleweight takes a serious toll on his body and it’s not getting any easier as he gets older.

While he’s not ready to say this is one of his last bouts in the division, Rockhold definitely sees a future in fighting at 205 pounds.

“It never gets any easier. I’m getting older and my bones are getting thicker and it gets harder to get down to this weight,” Rockhold said at the UFC 221 open workouts.

“Having this open workout on a Friday, it’s tough. But I feel good. I’ve got a great team around me with [George] Lockhart and [Dan] Leith, they’ve got my nutrition down to a science. I’m ahead of schedule this time around and I’ll be fine, but 205 [pounds] is imminent.”

What will make Rockhold’s move even easier is the fact that his teammate and close friend Daniel Cormier is about to move up to heavyweight to challenge Stipe Miocic for the title at UFC 226.

Of course, Cormier is still the reigning light heavyweight champion but he’s also said that he plans on retiring in March 2019 as his 40th birthday approaches. That leaves the door open for Rockhold to finally move to 205 pounds without any chance that he’d be asked to face Cormier.

“DC moving up to heavyweight. He’s not coming back, so I’ll be up there soon,” Rockhold said.

“It’s imminent. I’ll be up there soon.”